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Thursday, 21 November 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-16Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Debate on government's policy statementDebate on the new PASOK government's policy statement, which will be presented by prime minister George Papandreou, begins in parliament on Friday evening.The debate will wind up at midnight on Sunday with a roll call vote in a plenary session of the House's 300 members. Meanwhile, the names of the candidates nominated by the PASOK parliamentary group leader and party leader Papandreou for parliament's six Standing Committees, one Special Standing Committee, and seven Special Permanent Committees were released on Thursday evening. PASOK proposed Maria Damanaki for chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, and Eftichis Damianakis for vice-chairman. Costas Skandalidis was proposed for chairman of the Standing Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and Justice, and George Dolios for vice-chairman. Vasso Papandreou was proposed for chairman of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, and Dimitris Kouselas for vice-chairman. Yannis Drivelegas was proposed for chairman of the Standing Committee on Production and Trade, and Dimitris Tsironis for vice-chairman. Dimitris Kremastinos was proposed for chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, and Christos Haidos for vice-chairman. George Nikitiadis was proposed for chairman of the Standing Committee on Cultural and Educational Affairs, and Michalis Pantoulas for vice-chairman. Miltiades Papaioannou was proposed for chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency. Elpida Tsouri was proposed for chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad. Costas Kartalis was proposed for chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Protection of the Environment. Vassilis Economou was proposed for chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Equality, Youth and Human Rights. Costas Spiliopoulos was proposed for chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Research and Technology. Panayotis Rigas was proposed for chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on the Peripheries. Sophia Sakorafa was proposed for chairman of the Special Permanent Committee on Road Safety. Efstathios Koutmeridis was proposed for chairman of the Special Standing Committee on Financial Statement and General Balance Sheet of the State. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister George Papandreou [02] New round of deliberations with candidatesThe deadline for candidacies for main opposition New Democracy's (ND) leadership expired on Thursday evening, with the four anticipated high-profile cadres formally submitting their candidacy, while three additional last-minute candidacies tabled with the ND Extraordinary Congress Organising Committee were disqualified for not meeting the requirements set out under the ND Charter.Dora Bakoyannis (former foreign minister), Dimitris Avramopoulos (former health minister), Antonis Samaras (former culture minister) and Panayotis Psomiadis (Thessaloniki prefect) are the contenders for the ND leadership. Organising Committee chairman Dimitris Sioufas will hold a new round of deliberations with the four main candidates on Friday in an ongoing effort to find common ground regarding the demand that has arisen for election of the new leader by the party's registered members, given that under Article 14 of the ND Charter, the party president is elected by the party Congress delegates (or electors). Caption: Meeting of main opposition New Democracy Extraordinary Congress Organising Committee [03] ASE opening: DeclineEquity prices were declining at the opening of trade on Friday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index down 0.70 percent, standing at 2,873.92 points at 10:55 a.m., and turnover at 33.5 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest gains in Health, up 1.37 percent; Financial Services, up 0.48 percent and Public Utilities, up 0,39 percent. The biggest losses were in Media, down 1.60 percent; Chemicals, down 0.91 percent; and Food and Beverages, down 0.91 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 0.59 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.11 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 0.04 percent. Of the stocks moved, 47 were up, 56 were down, and 29 were unchanged. [04] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Friday edition of Athens' newspaper at a glanceThe ongoing strike by Piraeus port dockworkers demanding annulment of the 35-year concession of the port's container terminal to the Chinese company COSCO, and Main opposition New Democracy (ND) MP Antonis Samaras' candidacy for the party leadership, dominated the headlines on Friday in Athens' newspaper. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The four candidates for ND's leadership agreed that the new leader should be elected by the party's grass roots". AVGHI: "Athens calls Brussels - The Prime Minister, in his policy statement on Friday, will adopt (European Commissioner for the Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin) Almunia's agenda". AVRIANI: "The Germans, who are poised to abandon their investments in Greece, will shut down the shipyards and SIEMENS". ELEFTHERI ORA: "While the government ....pays for its unfeasible pre-electoral announcements, the dockworkers are devastating the economy". ELEFTHEROS: "Samaras' biggest clash with Dora (Bakoyannis, former Foreign Minister and candidate for ND's leadership)". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "SOS 'Derailment' - Government describes the terrible condition it found the in the economy". ESTIA: "The 20th change of electoral law". ETHNOS: "Gradual equalisation of retirement ages in public sector - Social security: Government seeks a considerable adaptation period". KATHIMERINI: "Government seeks to reduce the deficit by 10 billion euros in 2010". LOGOS: "Final countdown in ND - Candidacies for leadership concluded". RIZOSPASTIS: "PASOK ruthless in crushing the working classes' rights - The government unveiled its true face early", referring to the use of tear gas and chemicals to disperse striking shipyard employees outside the Labor and Social Insurance minister after scuffles broke out outside the ministry following a meeting by strikers with the minister. TA NEA: "Extraordinary tax on corporate profits". TO VIMA: "Ultimatum and surveillance - New taxes and Social Security are the government's problems and dilemmas". VRADYNI: "This is PASOK's real face - Ten days after its election the truth is revealed". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |